Reading Time: 4minutesAutomotive SPiCE is a process maturity framework to assess the capability and maturity of organisational processes to develop software resp. embedded systems in the automotive industry. It is a variant of ISO 15504 tailored to the needs of the automotive industry.
The framework is used by automotive OEMs and suppliers to assess the capability and maturity of their development processes for software and embedded systems.
The process reference part of the model defines the central processes relevant to be inspected and to be performed in any software/embedded system development.
The process assessment part of the model describes how to evaluate the capability of processes within the organisation.

Automotive SPICE

What is Automotive SPICE?

Automotive SPICE is a process maturity framework to assess the capability and maturity of organisational processes to develop software resp. embedded systems in the automotive industry.

History of Automotive SPICE

Automotive SPICE was developed 2001 as a variant of ISO 15504 (SPICE) by the AUTOSIG (Automotive Special Interest Group). This group consists of the SPICE User Group, the Procurement Forum, and german automotive constructors: Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche, Volkswagen, and other international automotive manufacturers like Fiat, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo.

Process Reference Model

The process reference model (PRM) defines all Automotive SPICE processes to be applicable in well-defined automotive software and embedded systems development. A process reference model is a schema that guides you in a specific field of application to perform certain activities and to produce related work products. On the work floor level, it is a set of base practices (BP) and resulting work products (WP).
Base practices are specific for their field of application and they help to generate unique work products by certain process inputs.

The processes are clustered by common topics — like acquisition, supply, and logistics — to so-called process areas. Automotive SPICE describes the life cycle of electronic products with three different process areas:

Process Assessment Model

The assessment model (PAM) maps the extent of process performance to specific capability levels and defines how these levels can be assessed. Capability levels measure on a given scale the extent how far a process is performed.

Automotive SPICE assessments are conform to ISO/IEC 15504-2 assessment requirements. The assessments evaluate on six levels how an organisation is capable to run mature processes. The framework defines for each level specific capability indicators to measure the extent of achievement on a four-value rating scale.

Scale

Description

N

Not achieved

0 to ≤ 15% achievement

There is little or no evidence of achievement of the defined process attribute in the assessed process.

P

Partially achieved

> 15% to ≤ 50% achievement

There is some evidence of an approach to, and some achievement of, the defined process attribute in the assessed process. Some aspects of achievement of the process attribute may be unpredictable.

L

Largely achieved

> 50% to ≤ 85% achievement

There is evidence of a systematic approach to, and significant achievement of, the defined process attribute in the assessed process. Some weaknesses related to this process attribute may exist in the assessed process.

F

Fully achieved

> 85% to ≤ 100% achievement

There is evidence of a complete and systematic approach to, and full achievement of, the defined process attribute in the assessed process. No significant weaknesses related to this process attribute exist in the assessed process.

Level

Description

Process attribute

Rating

Level 0:Incomplete process

The process is not implemented or fails to achieve its process purpose.

Level 1:Performed process

The implemented process achieves its process purpose

PA 1.1: Process Performance

Largely

Level 2:Managed process

The previously described performed process is now implemented in a managed fashion (planned, monitored and adjusted) and its work products are appropriately established, controlled and maintained.

The previously described established process now operates predictively within defined limits to achieve its process outcomes. Quantitative management needs are identified, measurement data are collected and analyzed to identify assignable causes of variation. Corrective action is taken to address assignable causes of variation.